Wilpattu National Park

This national park is situated on the northwest coast of sri Lanka 15 kms north of the Puttalam lagoon. Its name is derived from the word “villu”or Lake. There are over sixty of these sand rimmed depressions that fill up with rain water during the rainy seasons. It is an important sanctuary for endangered species like the elephant and the leopard .It is famous for its leopard population with over 50 individuals being identified. It has a unique eco-system with many endemic species, and is the watering ground for many migrant species of birds. Its terrain is dry scrub with wetland grasses .Its swamps are teeming with amphibian and reptile species and monitor lizards proliferate in this environment. It is the largest and one of the oldest designated parks in Sri Lanka.